What is a "Sensible Itinerary?"

a) Too much, too fast: If you try to ‘pack’ too many sights & activities into too short a tour you are demanding a low-quality experience. More, is often dramatically less.

Example: 5 countries in 6 days is:
    1) too much bus time traveling 
    2) site visits & activities are too brief & rushed
    3) hours spent busing means less time at fewer
        sites, 
    4) you WILL probably be worn out …. remembering
        & enjoying very little; hating foreign travel experience &
        destroying one of your life’s great passions. 

ANECDOTE: my friend Marylyn’s Spain trip: Marylyn joined a Spain trip planned & executed by an in-law covering too much, too fast without her input by plane & rented car in a country with a superb train & bus system. Inefficient schedules of Tier 1 thru Tier 3 sites with out her input resulting in ... much wasted time, group conflict & dissatisfaction crushing Marylyn's desire for any future travel.

b) Foolish bragging rights: Some travelers foolishly travel so they can return home and brag about the number of countries, cities or sites visited …. to friends who not only don’t care, but may be put-off by your self-importance & bored by your endless photos. 

If this braggadocio is your primary reason to travel, save your money, and stay home and watch YouTube travel videos (https://www.youtube.com/@scottsolotravels.

Anecdote: My friend's reaction to my trip on my return: Each time I returned from a foreign trip my BEST friends would, without my prompt, ask, “How was your trip?” I would respond simply, “Great trip", and that was the extent of their curiosity. Seldom, further questions. 

I suppose I expected to be welcomed back as the great adventurer. At first, I was annoyed & mystified until I accepted the reality that others have no duty to be enthused with my travels, and may in fact, be annoyed with their own lack of foreign travel initiative. 

c) Balance of sights and activities. A good tour will take you to both historic sights and places of contemporary interest, to both natural places (or at least outdoor areas), museums AND provide some "free-time".

d) ‘’Free-Time”: is the “hidden gold mine” that maximizes your package tour’s goals & memories.  [jlk: free time]